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How long can we carry on like this for?

999 replies

Pseudosudocrem · 18/04/2020 09:35

Anyone else starting to wonder just how long we can carry on like this before everything irrevocably falls apart?

How will we ever recover as a country?

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DeathByBoredom · 18/04/2020 18:58

Even the vast majority of 80 year olds survive it, for goodness sake.

I wonder how many in the UK have started crash diets, considering the link to obesity. Maybe that would be a better focus for the government? Get everyone out exercising and on a strict 1000kcal diet a day. If you are overweight or obese and not dieting, then I would suggest you are not all that worried after all.

woodchuck99 · 18/04/2020 18:59

We can carry on like this - we're going to have to for a while, thankfully because I'm worried about us going back to 'normal' too fast, but we also need to adapt to make this a more productive time, and use the technology we have to get people able to keep working who are otherwise furloughed or now unemployed.

I agree.

Inkpaperstars · 18/04/2020 19:00

I've just been saying on another thread...what can people who are confident their own risk is negligible do to help, by volunteering? I think the Nightingale hospitals still need non medical volunteers, also there are many people needing shops doing for them. What else would be really good for those who are not worried by the illness and want to get back into activity?

TheBouquets · 18/04/2020 19:00

I am disabled and as such I get to shop in the elderly shopping hour. I can socially distance as much as I can but some of them just don't get the idea of keeping a safe space between you and the next person. The security guard had to intervene to get people to space themselves out a few times.
I have also seen adults out with children who are sniffing and picking noses and getting right up to other people. There are runners and cyclists both on the pavements and getting to close to people.
We all were meant to social distance not just a few.
I have noticed some businesses are opening up again with distancing involved.
As someone who is ill for other reasons I feel a bit pushed out the way. I am well aware of infection rates and how this is an unusual time. I stay in most of the time I don't even exercise every day but I wont feel this is going to work until people keep to the guidelines.

Quartz2208 · 18/04/2020 19:02

@MilkTrayLimeBarrel it isnt a disease of elderly people it a disease that disproportionately effects them severly which in a conversation about getting the economy restarted is relevant

midgebabe · 18/04/2020 19:04

Wonder how many fewer asthma deaths there now is with the reduced traffic?

Greenpoppins · 18/04/2020 19:08

We can carry on like this - we're going to have to for a while, thankfully because I'm worried about us going back to 'normal' too fast, but we also need to adapt to make this a more productive time, and use the technology we have to get people able to keep working who are otherwise furloughed or now unemployed.

I disagree. Having worked at a company that had to push 'pause' after difficult negotiations with a major retailer a lot of those jobs never came back after the redundancies. Companies won't be able to support staff while they get contracts in place for the second half of the year.

If there were ideas for earning a decent salary working from home Mumsnetters would have worked it out 10 years ago.

DeathByBoredom · 18/04/2020 19:09

There are positives to lockdown. Great for the breeding season if it continues long enough as well - no humans to disturb the birds and animals.

RigaBalsam · 18/04/2020 19:09

Wonder how many fewer asthma deaths there now is with the reduced traffic?

And RTA's . They must be reduced but still we have more deaths from ONS on record since records began.

BelleSausage · 18/04/2020 19:13

@Greenpoppins

Jobs will appear as supply meets demand. So more supermarket roles, packing and delivery role, courier jobs, nursing jobs (to fill vacancies) and more jobs in food production and manufacturing.

Some industries will collapse but others will thrive.

That is the whole point of free market economics. Companies can’t benefit from the free market and then complain when they are allowed to fail because of changes in the market.

People need to and will adapt.

Alsohuman · 18/04/2020 19:16

Sure, have a read of this document. It outlines the main issues with funding adult social care

How does the cost of social care equate to people over 70 costing the state more? Most people don’t need social care until at least their 80s and many of those self fund. You’re going to have to do better than that to evidence your sweeping generalisation.

Whatevah · 18/04/2020 19:21

Ethically, hospitals cannot sit for much longer with scores of empty beds, and investigative units that are closed to redeploy staff to half empty ICUs. There are people sitting at home who need investigations urgently, urgent surgery etc. Ethically we cannot discount their needs, their right to treatment, 'in case' more covid patients come.
Its tough.

Greenpoppins · 18/04/2020 19:22

@BelleSausage You are right, SOME jobs will be replaced in other sectors . The jobs you are mentioning won't be permanent (maybe nursing, but that requires significant training).

Fine if you think people will just have to cope with redundancies. I know it isn't easy and is worth serious consideration along with protecting the vulnerable.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 18/04/2020 19:23

Austerity is a political choice

Only as long as there's money available to make an alternative choice, and if tax revenues fall too far through millions unemployed and businesses closed that money simply won't be there

Speaking of tax, I finally found that graph explaining at what age tax paid / money paid out reverses ...

How long can we carry on like this for?
Bimbleboo · 18/04/2020 19:24

@wanderings I get what you are saying and while I can’t relate to it, I do try and understand the people making this same point. What confuses me though, is, has no one considered that we aren’t having information withheld. There just isn’t any MORE information than what we are being given but don’t like the sound of ? While I don’t love government response to this as a whole, I’m not sure why so many refuse to take what they are saying in. They are literally telling us the plan repetitively with three three part mantra. Over and over. And that is the plan.
Yes it only goes three weeks down the line but they can’t give the next step until they see what happens next with the economy, the hospital rates, the death rates, the vaccine and antiviral campaigns, the antibody testing, other countries etc etc etc. There cannot BE further plans until we see if THIS part of the plan actually works in our favour. I feel like lots of people are covering their ears at the info given, because it’s not the info they WANT to be given. Perhaps we aren’t being told when lockdown will end because they haven’t got a clue themselves. There’s a novel, fairly dangerous virus that we don’t fully understand yet and can’t plan too far ahead for. If the government WERE to say ANYTHING even SUGGESTIVE of what they might do next, and then had to backtrack on it because shit hit the fan worse.. there would be absolute uproar.
I’m just not sure it’s a case of people wanting information. I feel like people want to be told what they want to hear and since they can’t be frustrated at a virus , they are frustrated at the government. Or at sally down the road for taking a delivery slot even though she’s 30 and healthy. Or at those idiots next door who’s grandkids are visiting. Or some twat sitting on a bench for a sausage roll mid cycle.

Any next stage in the plan needs to be concrete, well researched, well thought out and certain before they even consider delivering it to the public. And it cannot be why if those things until they see what happens with this peak etc.

The last time the public got hint of impending societal restrictions, there were mass crowds rushing to pubs and the last time they said exercise outside was encouraged, everyone grouped together in parks and hills despite the car parks overflowing because the areas were now busy. And when they announced the next part of the plan was lockdown, people rushed to their second homes in tiny communities with tiny resources. The public’s behaviour after given new information doesn’t inspire much confidence.

I’d be kinda cautious about announcing the next step too.

If they said ‘we will probably Relax measures in two weeks... ‘ people will just start flouting it early because individually they’ll think it’s just about over so it doesn’t matter now.

woodchuck99 · 18/04/2020 19:25

Ethically, hospitals cannot sit for much longer with scores of empty beds, and investigative units that are closed to redeploy staff to half empty ICUs. There are people sitting at home who need investigations urgently, urgent surgery etc. Ethically we cannot discount their needs, their right to treatment, 'in case' more covid patients come.

I'm not sure if you meant it to be but that's an argument for keeping lockdown and reducing infections People don't want to go to hospitals anyway at the moment because they're scared of catching coronavirus and that will be worse if infections increase.

Bimbleboo · 18/04/2020 19:26

So many typos. Am typing with one hand while feeding baby. Apologies

randomer · 18/04/2020 19:27

@Nike, you do realise God willing, you will age too?

maxiflump1 · 18/04/2020 19:28

I read this article earlier on buzzfeed about how it could be released. I'm not sure how reliable it is but it makes sense.

Businesses including small shops to reopen mid May. More business then Gradually open over the summer but still maintaining social distances and small scale gatherings will be permitted with a view to opening pubs and restaurants late summer. It also indicates that over 70's and shielded groups will be advised to remain isolated until there's a vaccine but that this is likely to be difficult as no one wants to tell kids they can't see granny for another year. Interestingly it doesn't mention schools reopening...

https://www.buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/coronavirus-uk-lockdown-three-stage-exit-plan?utmsource=dynamic&utmm_campaign=bffbbuzzfeeduknews&ref=bffbbuzzfeeduknews

HermioneWeasley · 18/04/2020 19:28

@JediJim. The government briefing on Thursday when they announced the lockdown extension

Alsohuman · 18/04/2020 19:30

Nike, you do realise God willing, you will age too?

Of course she won’t, she’s found the elixir of youth and is immortal.

RunningNinja79 · 18/04/2020 19:36

I agree with Deux that people will get restless before long, unless we're given some sort of plan, and something to hope for. At the moment, there is nothing even to hope for. We want some INFORMATION

I agree. If there was a date in the future (be that 6 weeks or even 6 months from now) that things were going to change a bit then that would make a lot of people feel a lot better. All we are getting at least another 3 weeks of the same with no further information. Are they going to look at relaxing some rules then or add another 3 weeks on it? Is it meant to make us feel better that they are just saying 3 weeks? I'd personally rather they say 12 weeks from the start if that is what the intention is rather than just 3 weeks and then keep adding another 3 weeks. At least if there's an end date to the lockdown as it is or some plan then we can look towards the end. The government said on Thursday that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Unfortunately without knowing a plan I can't see this light.

I've opened another tab of the imperial college paper linked earlier in the thread. I wasn't aware this was here. Going to have a read now.

Mummyoflittledragon · 18/04/2020 19:36

I said how I feel about dying being an inevitable part of living. Perhaps Nike feels the same. 🤷‍♀️

woodchuck99 · 18/04/2020 19:36

I think if this just effected the elderly the argument for discontinuing lockdown would be stronger because it is easier for them to avoid the virus as they don't have to work and they don't have children at school. However, people over the age of 50 are at significant risk too which means it just isn't possible to open businesses without causing significant deaths in this age group. Even those that only care about the economy should consider that these people are of working age and there would be a huge impact on economy if they died.

breadfan1 · 18/04/2020 19:38

Utter bollocks. The world kept turning after the Black Death.

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